Filed Under Religion

Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center

Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus

The Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center is a general recreational, social and fraternal organization.

In almost every major city in the United States there is a Jewish Community Center. It serves as a general recreational, social, and fraternal organization for the local Jewish community. The JCC promotes Jewish culture and heritage through different clubs, programs, and educational opportunities. The center has several recreational activities like a swimming pool or track, but has a Jewish summer camp for the younger kids in the community.

The Phoenix Jewish Community Center started in a small house on North Forth Street in 1945. This did not last long because the JCC moved to a larger house on North Central Avenue in 1953. As the need continued to grow the JCCC would then move to a newly constructed building on East Camelback Road in 1955. Even after the grand opening of the new building, the Jewish community was campaigning for a larger facility. The new JCC would be opened in 1962 on West Maryland Road in downtown Phoenix.

In 1998, the Jewish community realized that they needed to move away from downtown Phoenix to build a much larger JCC. The builders looked to the area of Scottsdale. In 2002 the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center would open in its current location in Scottsdale as part of the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus. The VOSJCC has a swimming pool and a library, which stocks Jewish reference materials. It is an excellent athletic, social and cultural venue that adds to the programming already in place by the local synagogues. The community is open to all visitors.

Images

JCC Groundbreaking Ceremonies
JCC Groundbreaking Ceremonies Rabbi Albert Plotkin and other prominent members of the Jewish community taking part in the groundbreaking ceremonies of the new Jewish Community Center. Source: Arizona Jewish Historical Society, "JCC Groundbreaking Ceremonies at new site," 14213-30.jpg. Creator: Markow Photography Date: February 4, 1962
Sign Installation at New Phoenix Jewish Community Center
Sign Installation at New Phoenix Jewish Community Center Morrie Hershman and Sidney Pickelner hold the sign for the new Phoenix Jewish Community Center, while Edith K. Baum points. The center opened at 2211 North Central Avenue in December 1953 and was used until the permanent center at 1510 East Camelback Road was completed in December of 1955. Source: Arizona Jewish Historical Society, "
Sign Installation at New Phoenix Jewish Community Center, 1951," 1440-1.jpg.
Creator: Markow Photography Date: October 4, 1951
Jewish Community Center
Jewish Community Center The Maryland Avenue JCC opened in 1962. It remained open until 1996. Date: Arizona Jewish Historical Society, Jewish Community Center <http://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/ajhjnp/id/276/rec/150> accessed December 10, 2016.
JCC Picnic at Saguaro Lake
JCC Picnic at Saguaro Lake Male members of the Phoenix Jewish Community Center play tug-of-war while ladies look on at a picnic at Saguaro Lake in 1947. Source: Arizona Jewish Historical Society, "JCC Picnic at Saguaro Lake, 1947," 458-2.jpg. Creator: Markow Photography Date: June 22, 1947
Phoenix Jewish Community Center Halloween Party
Phoenix Jewish Community Center Halloween Party Young men and women dress up for a Halloween party at the Phoenix Jewish Community Center in 1951. Source: Arizona Jewish Historical Society, "
Phoenix Jewish Community Center Halloween Party, 1951," 1470-3.jpg.
Creator: Markow Photography Date: October 31, 1951
Women Advertising May Fair
Women Advertising May Fair Three women advertise the Phoenix Jewish Community Center's May Fair in 1955. From left to right: Steve Tropp, Joyce Landman, and Penny Tropp. Source: Arizona Jewish Historical Society, "Women Advertising May Fair, 1955," 3681-2.jpg. Creator: Markow Photography Date: April 20, 1955
Future Home of the Jewish Community Campus
Future Home of the Jewish Community Campus In 2002 the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center was built in Scottsdale. The Valley of the Sun JCC is part of the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus which houses four other Jewish agencies including the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, the Bureau of Jewish Education, Council for Jews with Special Needs, and Jewish Community Foundation. Source: "Future Home of the Jewish Community Campus, 1998," Flo Eckstein Collection, Publisher of the Jewish New of Greater Phoenix, Arizona Jewish Historical Society <http://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/ajhjnp/id/185/rec/115> accessed December 11, 2016. Creator: Flo Eckstein Collection, Publisher of the Jewish News of Greater Phoenix Date: September 3, 1998

Location

12701 N. Scottsdale Road Scottsdale, AZ 85254

Metadata

Heather Roehl, “Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center,” Salt River Stories, accessed November 18, 2024, https://saltriverstories.org/items/show/217.